A portrait of the artist as a young man
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is the first novel by Irish writer James Joyce It tells the tale of young Stephen Dedalus, Joyce’s alter-ego, as we follow him along his path to personal and artistic growth. This prose is extremely modern for 1916.
Review by Kenny
James Joyce’s A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man starts with the buoyancy, simplicity and purity of a tale told to a young boy and ends on a note that is tentative, apprehensive, and off-kilter. Between the two points, we meet our hero Stephen Dedalus, as he navigates the snares of ethnicity, Catholicism, nationalism and clan as they attempt to trap his poet’s soul and destroy Stephen's beautiful dreams. Joyce’s 1916 novel is a cornerstone of literary modernism. Upon reading the final words, it’s easy to see how Joyce upended
the literary world with A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. Every page drips with brilliance.
the literary world with A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. Every page drips with brilliance.
The character’s thoughts, feelings, and reactions are portrayed in a continuous flow and interrupt the linear plot of events and dialogue in the tale of Stephen's life. The story starts with the young Stephen reciting a nursery rhyme about a moo-cow.
From the preface:
Once upon a time and a very good time it was there was
a moocow coming down along the road and this moocow
that was coming down along the road met a nicens little
boy named baby tuckoo.
a moocow coming down along the road and this moocow
that was coming down along the road met a nicens little
boy named baby tuckoo.
His father told him that story : his father looked at him
through a glass : he had a hairy face.
through a glass : he had a hairy face.
He was baby tuckoo. The moocow came down the road
where Betty Byrne lived : she sold lemon platto, the wild rose blossoms
where Betty Byrne lived : she sold lemon platto, the wild rose blossoms
On the little green place.
He sang that song. That was his song.
O, the green wothe hotheth.
When you wet the bed first it is warm then it gets
cold. His mother put on the oil sheet. That had the
queer smell.
cold. His mother put on the oil sheet. That had the
queer smell.
His mother had a nicer smell than his father. She
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played on the piano the sailor's hornpipe for him to dance.
He danced :
He danced :
Tralala lala,
Tralala tralaladdy,
Tralala lala,
Tralala lala.
Uncle Charles and Dante clapped. They were older
thean his father and mother but uncle Charles was older
than Dante.
thean his father and mother but uncle Charles was older
than Dante.
Dante had two brushes in her press. The brush with
the maroon velvet back was for Michael Davitt and the
brush with the green velvet back was for Parnell. Dante
gave him a cachou every time he brought her a piece of
tissue paper.
the maroon velvet back was for Michael Davitt and the
brush with the green velvet back was for Parnell. Dante
gave him a cachou every time he brought her a piece of
tissue paper.
The Vances lived in number seven. They had a different
father and mother. They were Eileen's father and
mother. When they were grown up he was going to
marry Eileen. He hid under the table. His mother said :
father and mother. They were Eileen's father and
mother. When they were grown up he was going to
marry Eileen. He hid under the table. His mother said :
— O, Stephen will apologise.
Dante said :
Dante said :
— O, if not, the eagles will come and pull out his
eyes. —
eyes. —
Pull out his eyes,
Apologise,
Apologise,
Pull out his eyes.
Apologise,
Pull out his eyes,
Pull out his eyes,
Apologise.
Pull out his eyes,
Pull out his eyes,
Apologise.
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